The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities held their 47th Annual Humanitarian Awards Dinner at the Richmond Marriott on October 27th. M. H. West & Co., Inc.’s CEO, Marilyn West is proud to serve on the Steering Committee for The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities and has been supporting the organization for years. Marilyn attended the dinner along with fellow associates Eugene Sampey, Julian House and Erica Cage.

The dinner celebrated “Inclusive Leadership” and some of Richmond’s most outstanding community leaders were present. Among those honored included: Viola Baskerville, Peter Bernard, Hugh F. Gouldthorpe Jr. and Alexander Lebenstein. Allix B. James received the Jeffrey B. Spence Award for Interfaith Understanding. St. Joseph’s Villa, which has been helping Richmond area children in need since 1834, received the Distinguished Merit Citation.

WEST’s Julian House enjoyed the dinner and found it inspiring that so many of Richmond’s influential leaders were active in promoting diversity in the community.

“United for UNOS” was both a 25th Anniversary celebration and a fundraiser for the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. WEST associates who attended the event, which was held at The Colony Club, included: Marilyn H. West, Eugene Sampey, Corliss Archer, Julian House, Erica Cage and Joe Armstrong.

Highlights of the evening included a raffle featuring many items from local retailers such as The Colony Club, Omni Hotel, Beecroft and Bull, Silpada Jewelry, Haley Pontiac GMC and an original watercolor painted by Dr. Baxter Perkinson, Jr. and two round trip airline tickets to anywhere in the U.S., donated especially for the event. Also during the evening, was an inspiring speech by Dr. Robert S.D. Higgins, M.D., MSHA, who flew in from Chicago to support UNOS. A performance by donor family member, Tammy Griffin,  a special tribute to her fiancé, who died in 1997 while waiting for a heart, and cousin, who received a liver transplant in 2001 capped off the night’s festivities.

“United for UNOS” had a clear message that organ donation is a noble act that not only saves the life of the organ recipient but also greatly enhances the lives of everyone who is close to the recipient. Marilyn West, who serves on the President’s Council for UNOS, was pleased that so many of her associates chose to support the event.